Deaf children find rewarding work at Six Flags<\/p>\n
By ALEXA GARCIA-DITTA<\/p>\n
agarciaditta@star-telegram.com<\/p>\n
ARLINGTON \u2014 Six Flags guests can hear six international languages
\nspoken by All American Cafe employees this summer \u2014 and see one
\nsigned.<\/p>\n
Morgan Campbell and Laura Lower, both 16 and of Arlington, are two of
\n11 deaf employees on staff. Five days a week, they don
\nhighlighter-yellow shirts and prepare hamburger vegetables and
\ncondiments at the restaurant alongside peers who can hear. Campbell
\nand Lower, students at the Texas School for the Deaf, communicate with
\neach other through American Sign Language.<\/p>\n
“I\u2019ve met a lot of friendly people here,” Campbell said through the
\npark\u2019s interpreter, Cindy Whitley. “I love being here every day and
\nlearning to communicate with people.”<\/p>\n
Deaf employees also work at food stands, park gates and guest
\nservices. The park accepts applicants 15 and older all year and has
\nstaffed as many as 30 deaf workers at one time, Whitley said.<\/p>\n
“In general this experience benefits everyone,” Whitley said.
\n“We\u2019re all learning to be flexible and deal with people not like
\nourselves.”<\/p>\n
Six Flags employs Texas School for the Deaf students during the
\nschool year as well. The school, in Austin, buses students to
\nArlington on weekends to work. Whitley and other interpreters help
\nsmooth communication among Six Flags employees.<\/p>\n
TSD Superintendent Claire Bugon encourages summer jobs for students
\nand hopes they will develop a solid work ethic.<\/p>\n
“A place like Six Flags is such a fun place to work,” she said.
\n“It\u2019s also good for the hearing population because they get exposure
\nto another language, American Sign Language.”<\/p>\n
‘I love it here\u2019<\/p>\n
Campbell prefers mingling with patrons and earning extra money to
\nsitting at home during the summers. She said that most park guests can
\nread her lips but that when they have difficulty communicating, they
\nwhip out pens and paper.<\/p>\n
“Here, I\u2019m working and interacting with so many different types of
\npeople,” she said. “I\u2019m seeing a different part of life.”<\/p>\n
Campbell knew about her grandmother\u2019s experience working for the
\npark and was eager to start.<\/p>\n
Lower was wary at first, but after she applied, in April, her
\nexcitement grew.<\/p>\n
“My mom helped me fill out my forms and communicate,” Lower said
\nthrough Whitley. “And now I love it here.”<\/p>\n
Being deaf and working at Six Flags comes with challenges. Campbell
\nsaid that when she and Lower wander the park on their breaks, they get
\nnervous that guests will ask them for directions.<\/p>\n
“If you don\u2019t have paper, it\u2019s awkward,” she said. “We usually
\nwrite notes and point at maps to show them.”<\/p>\n
The two girls called their job “awesome” and hope that more deaf
\nstudents and adults will apply.<\/p>\n
“This is the best you can have as your first job,” Campbell said
\nthrough Whitley.<\/p>\n
——————————————————————————–<\/p>\n
How to apply http:\/\/www.sixflagsjobs.com
\nor 817-640-8900 ext. 4200<\/p>\n
ALEXA GARCIA-DITTA, 817-548-5421<\/p>\n
Source: http:\/\/www.star-telegram.com\/855\/story\/744169.html<\/p>\n
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Deaf children find rewarding work at Six Flags By ALEXA GARCIA-DITTA agarciaditta@star-telegram.com ARLINGTON \u2014 Six Flags guests can hear six international languages spoken by All American Cafe employees this summer \u2014 and see one signed. Morgan Campbell and Laura Lower,…<\/p>\n